Fordham University, an MS in Chemical Engineering from the University of Washington and a BS in Chemical Engineering, summa cum laude, from UST in Manila. He was a Fellow in Industrial Engineering at Georgia Tech. He is currently on the Board of Trustees of Ayala Foundation USA, the Strategic Advisory Board of Wells Fargo, and the Science and Technology Advisory Council to the Philippines (STAC). In 2000, he was inducted into the Stanford University Alumni Multicultural Hall of Fame. Denny has served as AyalaTBI’s mentor and was one of the panel of advisers during the first TechBootCamp held last 2007. AyalaTBI’s Kape + Teknolohiya and Innovation Forum kicks off 2009 with talks on Data Visualization and On-line Gaming The Kape + Teknolohiya featured Diego Maranan, Faculty of Information and Communication Studies, University of the Philippines Open University who gave a talk on “Visualizing Data: Making Sense of an Information-Rich World” at the UP-AyalaLand Technohub, last January 29, 2009. Data Visualization, as a method for transforming information into visually compelling presentations can be designed to convey complex data through simple but powerful images or conversely, unearth complex issues from information and convey it through appropriate images. Examples cited were News Maps representing the disproportionate amount of news attention to stories about US and Iraq in 2007. Diego Maranan worked professionally with artists and in the field of information technology on both sides of the Pacific. He received his BSc in Computing Science and Contemporary Dance from Simon Fraser University (Canada) in 2005 and received scholarships and academic distinctions including a Canadian Information Processing Student of the Year nomination, Dean's List, and a 2006 Holy Body Tattoo Emerging Artist for British Columbia. He was artist-in-residence at Green Papaya Art Projects in Manila in 2008. Other research projects include, Biomodd, which integrates art, ecology, and game culture. Featured for Innovation Forum was Enrique Y. Gonzalez, Chief Executive Officer of IP Ventures (IPVG) in a talk entitled on “Play it Smart in 2009 (Is Gaming still an option) last February 6, 2009. Enrique covered the dynamics of local gaming industry, the change in buying patterns and the value proposition for advertisers (adver-gaming), given the slow down in the global economy. He also spoke about the need to develop local gaming talent in order to take advantage of intellectual property gains for on line gaming. In the context of the world economic slump, Enrique explained that people have adjusted buying patterns by substituting less expensive forms of entertainment. He explained that while consumption expenditure has dropped in the US, video games and on line gaming expenditures (as compared to console gaming) has increased as more affordable forms of entertainment. As an advertising medium, on-line gaming presents viable opportunities that results in more effective top of mind and brand recall. Enrique Gonzalez added that there are over 7M active on-line gamers and 40,000 plus users playing at any time in the Philippines. Hence, given the growing on-line gaming community, and the presence of local creative skills and game developers Enrique said that game development could be a major export product for the country. Innovation Forum features Biodiversity for Health and Wellness Dr. Gisela P. Concepcion, spoke during the Innovation Forum last November 13, 2008 on the topic, “Biodiversity for Health and Wellness: Creating a Value Chain (from field to lab to market)”. As a researcher, scientist, professor and entrepreneur, Giselle began her talk by speaking about the commercial potential of terrestrial or herbal products as cosmeceuticals. She elaborated on the chemical and regenerative properties of the lowly malunggay, for example, which according to Giselle, is rich in nutrients, proteins, iron, calcium, cholorophyll, among others. Her own BioMart Asia has created out of the malunggay, also known as the Philippine’s Miracle Tree, effective skin and health supplements. Central in Giselle’s talk was the focus that research done in universities should have practical benefits for society. According to Giselle, academe’s paradigm of “publish or perish” should find transformation in the more meaningful perspective of commercializing research as “patent and prosper”. In keeping with this paradigm, Giselle shared her own efforts in the development of nutriceuticals, pharmaceuticals, therapeutics and diagnostics (apart from cosmeticeuticals), which are derived from both terrestrial and marine specimens. She also emphasized that continuity and synergy between science and business was necessary if innovation was to take place. Moving up the value chain, Giselle talked about efforts within the University of the Philippines to spur higher technology research. In particular, Giselle informed the group that the University of the Philippines is currently developing the National Science Complex, which contains a technology incubation facility for biotechnology. Lastly, Giselle spoke about the huge potential resulting from the country’s biodiversity of small molecules including, careegenans, enzymes, polymers, biocatalysts and bioactive compounds for drugs. Mr. Guillermo M. Luz, Executive Vice President of Ayala Foundation gave the opening remarks. In his introduction, Mr. Luz said that an important goal of the Innovation Forum (IF) was the creation of review mechanisms of start up companies by venture capitalists. He added that the IF aims to build businesses so that scientists can recognize that the viability of home grown tech enterprises can be equal or more viable opportunities compared to overseas employment. The Innovation Forum is regularly held at the AIM Conference Center Manila (ACCM) on topics under information and communication technology, biotechnology, environment and renewable energy, and agri-business. AyalaTBI mounts second TechBootCamp for the year TechBootCamp (TBC), AyalaTBI’s flagship project on technology commercialization through a three-day training course with successful technologists and venture capitalists, will have its second run this year on November 22, 29 and December 6 at the TechnoHub-AyalaTBI along Commonwealth Avenue in Quezon City. Entitled “From Upstarts to Startups,” this TechBootCamp is exclusively designed for the University of the Philippines (UP) System and is open only to teams of UP students, faculty members, and alumni from the different UP constituent units nationwide. This TechBootCamp integrates a first-round funding mechanism for business concepts from the UP Diliman Foundation and the UP Diliman Office of the Chancellor. The camp likewise serves as a mechanism for selecting the pilot incubating businesses for pre-incubation at the National Engineering Center facility of the UP College of Engineering. The TBC’s panel of expert technologists and venture capitalists are: Arie Bernardo, Principal, WTP Capital, LLC; Chan Miranda, President and CEO, E-Apply, Inc.; Dondi Mapa, Process Director, Dell International Services; Dan Pagulayan, Executive Director, ICCP Venture Partners; David Cruz III, Founder and Director, Neugent Technologies; Ed Isidro, President and Founder, Philippine Venture Capital Investment Group; Dickie Gonzalez, President, Philippine Emerging Startups Open; Boy Teodoro, Head, Innovation Development Division of Globe; Paco Sandejas, Managing Director, Narra Venture Partners; Troy Borja, President, Systema Corporation; Greg Tangonan, Director, Ateneo Innovation Center; Bill Luz, Executive Vice President, Ayala Foundation; Harvey Libarnes, Head, Incubation Program, Globe; Joby Lizares, Director, Philippine Emerging Startups Open; Chito Oreta, Managing Director, Ayala Corporation; Michi Barcelon, Senior Manager, Ayala Foundation; Paul Inventado, Assistant Professor, De La Salle University; Chicho Mantaring, Head, Philippine Design and Engineering, Integrated Microelectronics, Inc.; and Ricky Jacinto, Managing Director, Ayala Corporation. TechBootCamp is conducted by AyalaTBI in partnership with Brain Gain Network and the Philippine Emerging Startups Open. Kape+Teknolohiya holds forum on “Opportunities in Renewables and Innovative Environmental Programs” at the new UP-Ayala Technohub AyalaTBI’s latest Kape+Teknolohiya session couldn’t have come at a more opportune time—right at heels of the swift passage by Congress of the Renewable Energy (RE) Bill, which now awaits the final sign-off by President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo. Fortunato Sibaya and Arnulfo Zabala, officers of the Department of Energy (DOE), and David Byro, environmental scientist of the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) spoke about local opportunities in renewable energy and environmental technology verification initiatives respectively. In discussing the country’s Energy Sector Framework, Sibaya and Zabala spoke about goals and activities under energy independence, one of five key points outlined in the country’s energy reform package. These action programs include the aggressive development of renewable energy potentials, such as solar, wind, hydro-power, ocean and biomass energy, if the country’s target of 60% energy self-sufficiency level by 2010 is to be reached. Specific goals under the Philippines’ renewable energy policy framework include positioning the Philippines as the first in terms of world geothermal energy production (currently, the country is second in capacity and first in steam utilization), and wind energy production in Southeast Asia among others. Lastly, Sibaya and Zabala discussed some of the fiscal and financial incentives under the RE Bill. The bill is expected to help the country's energy security, yield huge economic benefits, and boost effort to safeguard the environment. These incentives include: duty-free importation and subsequent sale of RE machinery, equipment and materials; tax credit on domestic capital equipment and services, 7-year income tax holiday; tax exemption of carbon credits; and exemption from universal charges for electricity generated for personal consumption and distribution. Also the DoE projects that the country can stand to gain US$ 1.2 billion in energy savings if renewable enrgy sources can supply an additional 2,500 megawatts of total power supply in the next ten years. Byro, on the other hand, talked about the EPA’s Environmental Technology Verification (ETV) program. The ETV program was created in 1995 to verify the performance of innovative technologies that have the potential to improve protection of human health and the environment. According to Byro, the program produces credible, scientifically objective evaluations of industrial and environmental technologies, which are needed by technology buyers and permitters to make technology decisions and assist in the development and commercialization of innovative technologies. He adds that the Philippines, along with Canada, the European Union (EU), Japan, Korea, and the Nordic countries has developed fully operating verification programs. He also made special mention that the Philippines will host the 4th Environmental Technology Verification International Forum in November 2009. Kape+Teknolohiya’s session on renewable energy was held recently at the Tech Portal at the newly opened UP-Ayala Technohub in Quezon City. The Technohub is home to AyalaTBI’s second incubating space in the Diliman campus of the University of the Philippines. TechnoHub-AyalaTBI will serve as a venue for the transformation of innovative ideas into cutting-edge commercial products. 2009 Microcontroller Applications Design Contest Launched at UP-Ayala Land Technohub The UP-Ayala Land Technohub, envisioned to become the leading science and technology park in the Philippines, comparable to the S & T parks in leading universities abroad, was the site of launch of 2009 Microcontroller Applications Design Contest or MADC, now on its eighth year. The MADC showcases the knowledge and skills of Filipino engineering students in microcontroller-based machines. The MADC 2009 announced the following categories: the Open Design Contest, which is open to projects with significant impact to electronics industry; and the Mobot Races, which is comprised of the Line-Following Category and the Maze Transversal Category. Serving as highlight of the launch of MADC 2009 was the plenary talk by Mr. Dahmane Dahmani, Zilog Worldwide Director for Applications Engineering, who discussed Zilog, its technological advancements, and its commitment to support partner universities in producing professional engineers. The event was also marked by the project presentations from representatives of the University of the Philippines in Diliman and University of Baguio, which included a discussion on technology entrepreneurship and their accomplishments in MADC. This year’s competition is organized by the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineering (IEEE) Philippines Section, and sponsored by Zilog Electronics Philippines, Inc., and the Department of Science and Technology-Philippine Council for Advanced Science and Technology Research and Development (DOST-PCASTRD), with the support of the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) through their Zonal Research Centers. The UP-Ayala Land Technohub is home to AyalaTBI’s second incubating space in the Diliman campus of the University of the Philippines. TechnoHub-AyalaTBI will serve as a venue for the transformation of innovative ideas into cutting-edge commercial products. AyalaTBI and G2VC Ink Agreement to Help Technology Entrepreneurs (Manila Oct 03) Ayala Foundation Executive Vice President Guillermo Luz and Winston Damarillo and Martin Lichauco, Managing Partners of Global Gateway Venture Capital signed an agreement to focus on addressing the needs of technology entrepreneurs in the country. G2VC and Ayala Foundation agreed to aid technology growth by bringing in more innovative ideas into Tech Boot Camps, tap capital to fund the first round needs of projects and incubate and grow these into competitive technology enterprises which can serve both domestic and global markets. Ayala Foundation through its AyalaTBI (Technology Business Incubator Network) and Global Gateway Venture Capital recognize that collaborative efforts will more effectively help develop new technology companies. AyalaTBI, a facility and service of the Ayala Foundation builds an ecosystem and networks for entrepreneurs to enable them to develop, build, and grow out technology start-ups in the country. This ecosystem is composed of technology developers, financiers (i.e., angel investors, venture capital firms, banks), industry partners, and support services such as legal services for intellectual property protection, property providers, marketing services, accounting and audit services, and others. G2VC is a Venture Capital firm focused on investments on information and communication technology with managing partners Winston Damarillo and Martin Lichauco. Both G2VC and AyalaTBI believe that in order for the Philippines to build up its competitiveness, both must enhance an ecosystem and create better chances of success for technology businesses to start and take root. Mr Luz stated that scholarships complemented with investment incentives for technology and basic R & D and diaspora linkages augmented with a business development strategy can attract technology transfer, contracts, and capital from outside back into the Philippines. Without that, we will continue to lose some of our scientists to overseas posts while relegating our local technology business sector to low-value-added businesses rather than focusing on research and development work on higher value-added products and services. The Ayala Foundation and G2VC collaboration launches a “web of partnerships which includes universities, industry, Philippine scientists and technologists (as well as non-techies working in technology companies), and research institutions” according to Mr. Luz. Industry based university R&D is crucial to Philippine global competitiveness Dr Gregory L. Tangonan, PhD, Director, of the Ateneo Innovation Center shared the approaches he and his teams at the Center were taking in seeking solutions to real problems during the Innovation Forum held last September 29, 2008 in Davao City. According to Greg, close industry collaboration for faculty led projects that are multi-year and multidisciplinary in approach is necessary to ensure innovation. Hence, instead of writing thesis for the sake of fulfilling grade requirements, Ateneo Engineering students structure end of term reports by participating in on-going projects that seek solutions to current problems. These projects are --- biomedical, environment and smart energy devices, among others. Greg talked about the discoveries as well as the creative approaches used by the Center. For example, in assessing the service quality of short message service (SMS), measurements on inter-carrier messages were undertaken on a platform that made use of a laptop, blue tooth and a cell phone. Hence, questions on quality of service in a typhoon situation, for example, can now be studied further. According to Greg, this is the first time that anybody has measured SMS efficiency. Greg also talked about discoveries made in other research projects including algae for oil, disaster alarm systems using wireless infrastructure, and low cost accelerometers for Medical rehab. Fr. Antonio S. Samson (SJ), President of the Ateneo de Davao University who gave the welcome remarks expressed appreciation for Ayala Foundation’s Ayala Technology Business Incubation project and looked forward to the opportunities and the research initiatives that Ateneo de Davao and industry partners could pursue and bring to full potential. Mr. Guillermo Luz, Executive Vice President of Ayala Foundation, stressed the importance of giving focus to the different technologies available to businessmen so that the country can gain a firmer foothold in the global market. Present during the forum were representatives from ICT community, business and the academe who served as panel reactors. Ms. Virginia Enriquez, of the Philippine Council for Advanced Science Technology Research and Development (PCASTRD), in her closing remarks informed participants of research in areas such as DNA forensics, DNA based detection kits for food pathogens, among others. The Innovation Forum – Davao City was organized by the AyalaTBI in partnership with the Ateneo de Davao University under the support of the PCASTRD, one of the five sectoral councils of the Department of Science and Technology (DOST). Harnessing the Power of Science and Technology for Development Dr. William D. Dar, Director General of the International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics (ICRISAT) spoke about his experience and insights during the Innovation Forum, held last September 11, 2008 in SEAROLIN, Carmen, Cagayan de Oro City. In this talk, Willie spoke about the ICRISAT’s strategies in support of its vision of improving the well-being of the poor in the semi-arid tropics. (The semi-arid tropics receive as little as 300 mm up to the maximum of 1,200 mm of rainfall a year compared to the Philippines’ over 1,000 mm annual rainfall). Despite the water-challenged nature of the environment, ICRISAT has pioneered in areas such as crop improvement and management, biotechnology and agro-ecosystems development giving rise to the development of 609 crop varieties and hybrids which have been released in 77 countries. Other breakthroughs include the production of the first transgenic pigeonpea, groundnut and chickpea plants, which have been genetically engineered to resist plant viruses. These plants including sorghum and pearl millet are mandate products, under ICRISAT’s umbrella, specifically chosen because they can best thrive given semi-arid tropic conditions. According to Willie, ICRISAT’s strategy is one that integrates agricultural research into the synergies identified in biotechnology, plant breeding, agronomy and agro-eco systems given the region’s living conditions. He added that to ensure continuing innovation and adoption of agri and biotech technologies, public and private partnership is crucial in order to facilitate the exchange of information and practices between large and small businesses. This also ensures that research and continuing innovations can be done in a sustained manner. Present during the forum was Cagayan de Oro City Mayor Contantino Jaraula, who welcomed participants by stressing the importance of applying the fruits of scientific research to increasing food productivity. Also present was Fr. Jose Ramon T. Villarin, President of Xavier University, who spoke about the vital role that incubation and innovation play in the path towards progress and poverty alleviation. Panel reactor members included Dr. Hector San Juan, Rodolfo Menes, and Roberto Ansaldo who acted as representatives from the agri-entrepreneur, business and civil society sectors, respectively. Roel Ravanera, Dean of the College of Agriculture of the Xavier University and Dr. Angelito Alolod , Director of the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) provided the syntheses and closing remarks. Organized by the Ayala Technology Business Incubator and the College of Agriculture of Xavier University, the Innovation Forum-Cagayan de Oro was made possible through the help of the Philippine Council for Advanced Science Technology Research and Development (PCASTARD) under the DOST. PCASTRD is one of the five sectoral councils of the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) tasked to develop, integrate and coordinate the national research systems for advanced science and technology (S&T) and related fields. Innovation Forum highlights two MIT research projects The Ayala Technology Business Incubator featured a research scientist from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) Media Lab in the last Innovation Forum held on August 6 at the Aim Conference Center, Makati City. Dr. Luis Sarmenta discussed two of the more dynamic research undertakings at the MIT—human dynamics and the Next Billion Network. Human dynamics, Sarmenta explained, uses technology to automatically collect and analyze measurements of real-world human interactions to discover, model, and predict—even influence—human behavior. For instance, having sensors in cellular phones, he said, can help in harnessing location-based data using global positioning system (GPS), cell towers, or WiFi. Human dynamics technology may also be highly beneficial to the business process outsourcing sector, Sarmenta said. Putting sensors in call agent’s microphones, for instance, can help analyze how pitch and tone patterns can shape behavior, and can help improve customer-relations management, among others. The Next Billion Network, meanwhile, is an initiative that searches for better ways to connect the next billion mobile phone users. It looks into innovations that will benefit the poor, which Sarmenta said are not necessarily bottom-of-the-pyramid markets. Sarmenta, who holds a doctorate degree in electrical engineering and computer science from the MIT, was the chair of the Department of Information Systems and Computer Science at the Ateneo de Manila University. He also founded the Ateneo Java Wireless Competency Center (AJWCC), which later spun off to BlueBlade Technologies Inc. AyalaTBI held the Innovation Forum in cooperation with the Brain Gain Network, the Philippine Emerging Start-Ups Open, and the Philippine Software Industry AyalaTBI joins international working group on business incubation The Ayala Technology Business Incubator (AyalaTBI) recently received news that it is now part of an international business-incubation working group, which received a grant from infoDev, a development financing program of the World Bank. The working group, which targets the development of high-growth enterprises involved in information and communication technology (ICT), is composed of representatives from 12 countries. The Philippines, represented by AyalaTBI, is the only country from Southeast Asia to be a part of the international think tank. The grant is one of three awarded by infoDev on promoting ICT-enabled innovation and entrepreneurship in developing countries. With Chile at the helm, the think tank will adopt a practical approach to providing innovative support to ICT related start-ups in the participating countries. The team envisions the results to benefit directly young companies incubated in the participating organizations, as well as the ICT entrepreneurial ecosystem in each country. Meanwhile, AyalaTBI served as part of the resource team in the International Conference on Promoting Innovation and Entrepreneurship Effectively through Business Innovation held on July 27 to 29 in Bangkok, Thailand. The event was a capability-building activity. It drew delegates from Vietnam, Indonesia, and the Philippines. Also, AyalaTBI continues to sit in the steering committee of Incubation Asia, which is the network of business incubators from the following countries: Bangladesh, China, India, Indonesia, Malaysia, Mongolia, Nepal, Pakistan, Philippines, Sri Lanka, Thailand, and Vietnam, as well as the Pacific island states. Ayala TBI holds forum on social entrepreneurship Featuring Care.com chief executive officer Sheila Lirio-Marcelo, the forum discussed how entrepreneurs could use the Internet as a platform not only for business and profit, but also for projects with a social mission. Lirio-Marcelo emphasized the importance of market research and understanding customer needs in developing products that focus on serving the unique requirements of customers. She also emphasized the need to build a strong management team with deep relevant expertise as well as the need to demonstrate the scalability of one’s business, most especially to funders. Calling itself “the premier source of trustworthy care options for their children, pets, elderly parents, and home,” Care.com offers clients free background checks and recorded reference interviews of qualified care providers such as babysitters and tutors. Care.com provides its services free of charge to individual care providers but obtains fees from care-provider institutions, agencies, and consumers. The Innovation Forum, a project of AyalaTBI, aims to serve as a venue for the exchange of ideas on innovation and technology entrepreneurship that could have a significant impact on the country’s economy. Meanwhile, AyalaTBI invites all Facebook users to join the official AyalaTBI Facebook group. Group members will receive updates on AyalaTBI’s activities as well as information on the work of Filipino scientists, technologists, and technology entrepreneurs. Kapihan Features Ateneo, UP Technology Tie-ups One need not wait for a technological breakthrough to come about in order to gain a head start over competition. Partnering with big companies who already have cutting-edge technologies but innovating uniquely to suit market needs is another way to capture the global market’s attention. This was one of the messages that was delivered during the Kape@Teknolohiya held last May 22, 2008 at the UP-AyalaTBI, at the University of the Philippines S&T Park (South) in Diliman.In keeping with the theme, "Creating Stronger Technology Research and Business Tie-ups", Professor Greg Tangonan of Ateneo Innovation Center and Professor Luis Sison of the UP Office of the Vice Chancellor for Research and Development talked about the role of the academe in the technology business incubation ecosystem and how they hope to spur innovation from their respective institutions. At the UP, technology transfer and early stage commercialization have taken place with companies in the areas of food technology and biotechnology, according to Dr. Sison. Similarly, Dr. Tangonan talked about the on-going efforts at the Ateneo to develop industrial associates, whether companies or individuals, who understand the investment and industrial context out of which innovations can occur and, therefore, can guide Filipino technologists towards new business opportunities. Apart from seeking industry alliances, other initiatives that they hope would lead to increased innovation include encouraging more faculty-led research and offering more incentives and intellectual property protection to technology entrepreneurs. The Kape@Teknolohiya is the longest-running technology and innovation kapihan in the country organized by the AyalaTBI in partnership with the Brain Gain Network and Philippine Emerging Start Ups Open (PESO). UP Visayas, AFI create TBI facility in Cebu campus Cebu has long been regarded as a center of commerce, trade, education, and industry in Southern Philippines. It has one of the fastest-growing economy in the country and is regarded as the IT and BPO capital in the region. Hence, Cebu is an ideal location for a technology business incubation (TBI) facility which will provide an “enabling” environment for start-up companies to grow and increase the probability of remaining financially viable. A TBI also helps encourage established companies to relocate in the region and provide an investment vehicle for investors. AyalaTBI, a project of the Ayala Foundation, will collaborate with University of the Philippines Visayas Cebu Campus to create the UPV Cebu-Ayala TBI in Lahug. A memorandum of agreement will be signed by Ayala Foundation Executive Vice-President Guillermo M. Luz and UP Visayas Chancellor Dr. Glenn Aguilar on June 20, 3:30 P.M. at the AVR at the UP Visayas Cebu Campus to mark the formal launch of this breakthrough collaboration in Cebu. AyalaTBI is both a business incubation service and facility that helps tech start-ups by creating an ecosystem where their chances of survival and eventual growth are better than if they were to start on their own without a support base. AyalaTBI offers services and activities like the Innovation Forum and Kape@Teknolohiya where AyalaTBI creates opportunities for science, technology, and business to meet. These exchanges have served to identify and introduce technologists to businessmen for the purpose of educating each other on their respective fields. It also assists in running business plan competitions for technology companies. With this signing, there are now officially four TBIs in the Ayala network, including UP-Ayala TBI South S&T Park in Diliman, AIM-AyalaTBI, and TechnoHub-AyalaTBI North S&T Park to be managed by Ayala Land, Inc. AyalaTBI is mandated “to enhance national competitiveness by supporting the formation and development of knowledge-based industries.” UPV Cebu-Ayala TBI will be managed by faculty of the Department of Computer Science of UP Visayas Cebu which was recently awarded by the Commission on Higher Education as a Center of Excellence in IT Education . ---------------------------------------------------- AyalaTBI Kicks Off Provincial Roadshow of Innovation Forum Innovation Forum (IF), the country’s pioneering discussion and networking forum for technologists, policymakers, venture funders, and entrepreneurs in science and technology, kicked off the first leg of its national road show in Cebu on April 8, 2008, at the Marriott Hotel. Facilitated by Eric Manlunas, a venture capitalist and managing director of Frontera Group, LLC in California, Innovation Forum-Cebu featured a discussion on the various trends in VC funding available to Philippine-based “techno-preneurs” and was followed by a networking session among relevant industry players. Cebu served as the best venue for the first leg of the road show outside Metro Manila because the province is the main center of commerce, trade, education, and industry in Southern Philippines. The city has the fastest-growing economy in the country and is the IT and BPO capital in the regions. Hence, AyalaTBI, which manages the Innovation Forum, is set to open a technology business incubating (TBI) facility at the University of the Philippines campus in Cebu, which was recently awarded by the Commission on Higher Education as a Center of Excellence in IT Education. UPV Cebu-AyalaTBI serves as the fourth facility under the AyalaTBI network. According to Ayala Foundation Executive Vice-President Guillermo M. Luz, “It is important to expand the reach of idea exchange in order to stimulate innovation and technology entrepreneurship outside Metro Manila and Luzon, and to create better, more significant impact in the local and national economies.” After the successful run in Cebu, Ayala Foundation will bring Innovation Forum to Baguio, Cagayan de Oro, and Davao on the third and fourth quarters of 2008. The Cebu leg was supported by the DOST Philippine Council for Advanced Science and Technology Research and Development and University of the Philippines-Visayas in Cebu. Innovation Forum is the leading clearinghouse for existing and emerging S & T knowledge that is ready to tap into the expertise and opportunities available in the country’s different financial districts. It offers topics on the convergence of business, science, and technology, and is on the watch-list of tech VCs and investors. I Also this April, F featured Dennis Fernandez in a lecture and networking session on “Coming Up with Ideas and Protecting Them.” Fernandez is a managing partner of Fernandez & Associates LLP, a Silicon Valley based Intellectual Property Strategy Firm. Using nanotechnology as his lecture framework, Fernandez provided a practical presentation on knowledge protection and enforcement strategies, including summaries on recent changes in patent law. A crucial overview of the spectrum of IP rights available and research access to knowledge-intensive starter companies marked the start of the lecture. This was followed by short but incisive discussion of various permutations of IP issues that is fostered by knowledge-intensive businesses by its very nature. An open forum and a networking session among the guests concluded this month’s IF. The Innovation Forum in Makati is held regularly at the AIM Conference Center Manila, where AyalaTBI has its second incubating facility in tandem with the Asian Institute of Management. It began in 2007 and has featured a distinguished line-up of Filipino and Filipino-American experts to make accessible to a broader public breakthrough ideas, trends, and practices in various science and technology fields. These experts include Harvard Scientist of the Year (2007) Baldomero Olivera PhD, Department of Science and Technology (DOST) Estrella Alabastro, Hybridigm CEO Maoi Arroyo, and Tech Visionary Awardee for 2006 Winston Damarillo. For details on forthcoming IFs, please send an email. ---------------------------------------------------- Paco Sandejas opens AyalaTBI Innovation Forum series in 2008 AyalaTBI hosted its first Innovation Forum for 2008 at the AIM Conference Center Manila (ACCM) on March 13, featuring inventor and venture capitalist Francisco “Paco” Sandejas, PhD (Stanford) who discussed global trends and hot technology business ideas. Over 100 participants listened to Sandejas’ lecture entitled “Where Venture Capitalists (VCs) are Placing their Bets in 2008.” Ayala Foundation vice president Guillermo Luz opened the session with a brief presentation on AyalaTBI. Sandejas discussed investment trends where information technology plays a major role. Today’s so-called hot industry areas, according to Sandejas, include Software as a Service (SaaS), next-generation mobile, and web video tools. Hardware trends include radio-frequency identification, sensor networks, Global Positioning System, security chips, low-power displays, server-based computing, and gigabit passive optical network. Other industry areas discussed in the forum include biotechnology (anti-infective drug research and medical instrumentation and tools) and alternative energy (solar, wind, and battery technologies). Sandejas also discussed Philippine VCs and where they are investing this year. The Innovation Forum and Kape@Teknolohiya are networking forums organized by AyalaTBI to bring together critical stakeholders in the fields of business, science and technology. In 2008, AyalaTBI partnered with the DOST-Philippine Council for Advanced Science and Technology to bring the Innovation Forum outside of Metro Manila, specifically to Cebu, Baguio, Cagayan de Oro, and Davao. On April 8, Eric Manlunas will give a talk on ”Trends in Venture Capital Funding for Philippine-Based Techies“ in Cebu. Eric is the founder and managing director of Frontera Group, Llc., a boutique venture capital firm focused on investing in early-stage emerging companies. Other events to watch out for include a session by Dennis Fernandez, entitled ”Coming Up with Ideas and Protecting Them” on April 10 in Makati. ----------------------------------------------------